Jack

by J. Paul Cooper

Jennifer pointed at Jack. “You have it easy. You don’t have to colour coordinate outfits, you don’t have to worry about wrinkles in your fur, and you never have to take anything to the dry cleaners.”

  “Meow: Are you kidding? I have to groom constantly, to keep my fur looking this good. And, do you know what that means? Furballs! Try swallowing your fur all day, and then throwing it up. It isn’t easy being a cat.”

  “Somedays,” Jennifer said, “I wish I knew what you were meowing about.”

  Jennifer turned and looked in the mirror. "I hope that I look good. I could get serious with a guy like John."

  Jack didn't like the sound of that at all. "Meow: Serious! What do you mean by serious?"

  Jack continued to watch Jennifer as she put on her best earrings, and used some of her favourite perfume. Jack was feeling very uncomfortable. If Jennifer looked great, smelled great, and the food was great... John might want to come back again! Jack did not like the idea of sharing Jennifer's attention with anyone, especially John. Jennifer had already given John his treat from the Chinese restaurant in Split River. What if John liked his sardines?

  Just after seven o'clock John's voice came over the intercom. "It's me, John."

  "Come right up," Jennifer answered, and pushed the buzzer to let him in.

  A few minutes later the apartment door opened and John walked in.

  Jennifer leaned over and scooped Jack up in her arms. "John, this is my friend Jack."

  John reached out to pet Jack, but he pulled his hand back when the cat let out an

  angry hiss.

  “Jack!” Jennifer scolded.

  Jennifer put Jack back down on the floor. “That’s weird. He’s usually a very friendly cat.”

  John shrugged. “Maybe he just needs to get to know me better.”

  "Meow: Not likely."

  Jack had never expected it to happen, but there was no question, he had

  competition. He could see how much Jennifer liked John by the twinkle in her eyes.

  Jack sat on the sofa and watched them as they ate supper together. The fact that Jennifer and John clearly enjoyed each other's company was getting on the cat’s nerves. John was telling Jennifer how good the meal was. "That was wonderful Jennifer, one of the best meals I've ever had."

  "Meow: He’s lying! You made spaghetti and salad. It's not like you spent all day cooking." John reached across the table and took Jennifer's hand in his. That was it. Jack hopped onto the table and glared at John. "Meow: Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

  Jennifer wasn’t happy. "Jack! Get off of the table. Bad cat."

  "Meow: Bad cat?"

  Jennifer pushed Jack off of the table.

  Jack kept hoping that they would get into an argument. Instead, they continued to gaze into each other’s eyes, with stupid grins on their faces. Jennifer was being brainwashed.

  After supper Jennifer and John watched a movie. Jack sat on Jennifer’s lap and kept an eye on John.

  After the movie was over, John told Jennifer that he had to drive back to Split River, and stood up to leave. Jack followed closely behind as Jennifer walked John to the door. Jack was relieved that John was leaving. He was looking forward to spending some time alone with Jennifer. Instead of leaving quickly, however, John stood even closer to

  Jennifer. As Jack stared in disbelief, John kissed Jennifer, on the lips!

  Jack let out a threatening hiss and took a swipe at John's leg. Even though he kept his claws in, Jennifer had had enough. A moment later Jack found himself in the bathroom, with the door closed.

  From the bathroom, he could still hear Jennifer speaking to John. "Sorry about my cat, he’s very protective. I hope that he didn't spoil the mood."

  "Not at all," replied John.

  Listening carefully at the bathroom door, Jack heard John kiss Jennifer again. If he could only get within range of John, he’d get his claws out and make sure that John never came back again.

  Jack was relieved to hear the apartment door close, but he knew he was still in trouble, because Jennifer didn't open the bathroom door.

  After John's first visit Jack understood that if he tried to scratch John, he would end up locked in the bathroom. It appeared that he would have to let this nonsense run its course. Eventually, Jennifer would come to her senses and realise that he was much better company than John.

  John's visits kept becoming more frequent. They were always holding hands. Often, they went out for the evening and left Jack in the apartment. He didn't like the idea of Jennifer being alone with John, but there was nothing that he could do about it. Jack was still hoping that they’d get in a big fight and Jennifer would tell John to get lost, but every time they had an argument, they made up afterwards.

  Jack sensed that things were getting serious, but one Saturday John made it very clear just how permanent their relationship was becoming....

  It should have been an ordinary evening. Jennifer and John came back to the apartment, talking about how good the food had been at a local restaurant. Fortunately, she had remembered to bring a treat for Jack. The cat was purring as loudly as possible, trying to remind Jennifer how happy they were, before John interrupted their lives.

  While Jack watched them from his food dish in the kitchen, the couple sat down

  on the sofa in the living room. John said he had something to give to Jennifer, and he took a small box out of his jacket pocket. Then, he took out a gold ring, and Jennifer allowed him to slip the ring onto one of her fingers.

  Jennifer started crying.

  Jack was furious. He rushed over and hopped onto Jennifer's lap. "Meow: What did he do to make you cry?"

  Jennifer held him close and whispered in his ear, "I'm so happy."

  "Meow: You’re happy?" Jack loved Jennifer, but at times her behaviour could be very confusing.

  Jennifer smiled through the tears as she stroked Jack’s fur coat. "We're getting married."

  Jack sat in stunned silence for several minutes. "Meow: What's going to happen to me?"

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jack sat on the windowsill in Jennifer's parents’ kitchen. It was a beautiful day in Split River, but he was miserable. He wasn't happy with Jennifer's mother or father, because they had let him down. They had been his last hope to stop the marriage, but even they liked John. It was always "John this" or "John that." Worst of all, they had even told Jennifer she was making a good decision!

  It had been two weeks since the couple had been married at the Split River Community Church, but for Jack, it seemed like Jennifer had been gone forever. It was the longest time they had ever been apart.

  Jack was scared. He knew that Jennifer wanted to keep him, but would John be able to talk her into leaving him behind? After all, she hadn't been thinking straight ever since she met John. He loved Jennifer with all his heart, and he couldn't imagine life without her. An occasional visit would not be enough.

  And so Jack waited, watching the cars pass by. All he wanted was to see Jennifer’s face, smell her scent, and feel her soft hands stroking his fur coat. Finally, after two weeks that felt like an eternity, Jennifer came back.

  "MEOW: JENNIFER!"

  As the kitchen door opened, Sarah leaned out and gave the returning couple a hug. Harold turned off the television in the living room and walked out to the kitchen. After hugging her father, Jennifer reached down and picked up Jack. He started purring. It felt so good to be close to his friend again. No one could stroke his fur coat the way she did.

  "Meow: Jennifer! I missed you so much."

  John looked over Jennifer's shoulder and spoke to Jack. "How's my favorite kitty cat?"

  Jack ignored the other male.

  Jennifer smiled, looking into his eyes. "Aren't you happy to see John?"

  "Meow: John who?"

  Jack was content as Jennifer scratched behind his ears. He just relaxed and enjoyed being close to his friend again. After a few minutes Jennifer put Jack down and reached into a shopping bag by the kitchen
table. Jack watched as Jennifer pulled out a long piece of string with a bell attached to the end. Jennifer started swinging it back and forth.

  Jack rolled onto his back at Jennifer's feet and happily swiped at the bell with his paws. He could hear her laughing, and it was the sweetest sound to his ears.

  After the better part of an hour, the newlyweds stood up and prepared to leave. John walked out to the car and returned with the pet carrier.

  Jennifer picked up Jack in her arms. "I think that he's still a little nervous around you. It would probably be better if I put him in it."

  John wasn’t impressed. "I thought he’d be used to me by now.”

  Jennifer defended her cat. "Sometimes these things take time. I'm sure that someday Jack and you will be good friends."

  "Meow: Don't bet on it!"

  Jennifer took the pet carrier to her car and placed it behind the driver’s seat on the

  floor.

  "Meow: Hey! I always ride in the front!"

  Jennifer had always put the pet carrier in the passenger’s seat. Jack was convinced it was John's idea to move him. He was not to be trusted for a moment.

  Even from his pet carrier in the back seat, Jack could sense that they were not heading in the direction of Coastal City. As they drove along, Jack remembered hearing John talk about his house in Split River.

  Jack had no idea what would happen next. All he knew was that Jennifer loved

  him, and that’s what really mattered. She was a true friend. Marrying John was just a mistake, but everyone made mistakes. Well, except for cats. Cats are always right.

  Finally, the car stopped and Jennifer turned off the engine. As John started to unload the luggage from the trunk, Jennifer reached in and lifted the pet carrier out of the car. Jack was not in a good mood. There was definitely no place on his schedule

  marked, "Go and live at John's house."

  "Meow: Before moving, you could have at least asked me Jennifer. What was wrong with the apartment? Everything in the house is going to have John’s scent on it. Yuck!”

  ***

  In a nearby tree two cats sat watching and listening as Jennifer carried Jack into the house. Tiger, the orange tabby, was not impressed. He turned to the white and grey cat sitting next to him. "That's all we need in the neighbourhood, some spoiled city cat.”

  Tiger’s sister, Chelsea, rolled her eyes. "You're always so negative. Maybe he'll fit right in. You don't even know if he is a city cat.”

  “I can tell,” Tiger replied, “I can tell.”

  “So what if that cat is from the city?” Chelsea asked.

  "This town is for real cats. Not sissy apartment cats." Tiger hissed and climbed down the tree trunk, disappearing through the slats in a nearby fence.

  Sitting alone, Chelsea meowed to herself in disgust. "How did I ever end up in the same litter with him?"

  ***

  Jennifer carried Jack through the back door into the kitchen, and placed the pet

  carrier on the floor. The cat stepped onto the cool white tiles. This kitchen was larger than the kitchen in the apartment. Jack stayed close to Jennifer for a few minutes as she sat and talked with John at the kitchen table, but soon he had to satisfy his curiosity. It was time to explore.

  Walking from the kitchen into the living room he noticed the carpet felt like the carpet in Jennifer’s apartment. It was nice and soft. Jennifer's china cabinet was in the corner, and her sofa was against the wall, but the coffee table and the large armchair were John's. Jack hopped onto the armchair. Despite the fact it had John’s scent on it, it was very comfortable.

  Next to the living room was a hallway that ran from the kitchen to the front door. The hallway had a hardwood floor that creaked when Jennifer or John walked on it, but Jack didn’t make a sound. Next to the door at the end of the hallway, was a set of stairs that led up to the bedrooms.

  There were two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. Jack wondered which room he and Jennifer would sleep in. At first Jack thought that John would sleep in the bedroom with the single bed, until he ventured downstairs again. Walking back into the kitchen, Jack noticed that someone had opened the door to the basement. Jack went down the stairs to investigate. The basement was poorly lit, damp, and musty smelling. The concrete floor was cold. That would be a good place for John to sleep.

  Before Jack went back up to the kitchen, he noticed that his litter box was in the

  basement. What was the big idea? Why didn't they put his litter box somewhere warm? John probably thought that was funny.

  Jack went back upstairs to complain to Jennifer, but before he started meowing, he noticed that she was opening the door of the refrigerator. Jennifer opened a can of sardines and scooped some into his dish.

  Jennifer smiled, because she knew how much Jack loved sardines. "Don't you think it's time to celebrate moving into our new home?"

  "Meow: I don't care what we're celebrating; it’s always the right time for sardines. They’re my favourite." He was relieved to see she didn’t offer any to John. It was bad enough that he had to share the same house as John, he certainly didn’t want to share his sardines with him too.

  A few minutes later, Jennifer started walking upstairs to get ready for bed and Jack followed her as usual. He expected to sleep at the end of her bed, because that's what he always did.

  As Jennifer walked towards the bedroom door, John stepped out into the hallway. "Do you remember what we talked about?"

  Jennifer looked down at Jack. "He's not going to like it."

  "I know," replied John, "but I don't want a cat in the bedroom."

  Jack was insulted by such a foolish suggestion. "Meow: I am not a cat. I am THE CAT! My place is on the bed, keeping Jennifer warm."

  Jennifer put her hands on her hips. "You told me that your dog used to sleep on

  your bed when you lived with your parents."

  John shrugged. "That was different. I’m not allergic to dogs, I am allergic to cats."

  Jack looked at Jennifer. “Meow: How could anyone be allergic to cats? That’s ridiculous! You don’t actually believe him, do you?”

  Jennifer was clearly unhappy with the situation, but she didn't want to spend all night arguing. She had agreed before they got married that Jack wouldn't sleep

  on the bed.

  The cat was disgusted. "Meow: No one who would let a flea infested hound sleep on his bed, is going to tell this cat what to do!"

  Jennifer leaned over and picked up her cat. "I'm sorry Jack, but you can't sleep in the bedroom like you used to. Things have changed."

  "Meow: But I keep you warm at night! That’s my job!”

  Jennifer put Jack back down and closed the bedroom door. Jack couldn’t believe what was happening. He started to scratch at the door with his claws. "Meow: Jennifer!”

  Jack could hear John speaking to Jennifer in the bedroom. "We aren't going to be able to sleep with him scratching at the door like that."

  Jack looked up in relief as Jennifer opened the door. "My friend. I knew that you wouldn't listen to John."

  But Jennifer didn't let him into the bedroom. Instead, she carried him towards the stairs.

  "Meow: Jennifer, the, uh, bedroom is back there."

  Jennifer carried Jack down the stairs to the hallway. He didn't struggle. He was in shock. A moment later, she placed him on the tile floor in the kitchen. Before going back upstairs, she closed the door to the hallway, and the door to the living room.

  No matter how much he swatted at the door to the hallway with his paws, Jennifer did not return.

  Jennifer was not sleeping, but she knew if she let Jack in the bedroom the first night, he would expect her to do the same every night. Life had changed for both of them, and there was no point in pretending otherwise.

  Eventually, Jack stopped protesting. It was obvious that a dog person had tricked his best friend. Jack had never felt so alone. The cat hopped up onto a windowsill in the kitchen and stared out at the street. It was
a clear, moonlit night. A breeze passed through the trees and made their shadows dance on the pavement.

  Jack was terrified that he might be losing best friend, but he didn’t know what to do. It seemed that there was no one to turn to for help. Jennifer's parents liked John as much as Jennifer did, and Sally lived in Coastal City.

  As Jack stared at the street, a shadow moved in the distance. A silent figure moved gracefully across a lawn and disappeared through a hedge. A cat. Jack sat up straight and his tail swished back and forth. He wasn't alone.

  ***

  The next day was a Saturday, and John was working a weekend shift. Jack was

  happy to be spending the day with Jennifer, who was busy tending her garden in the

  backyard. There were two gardens in the backyard, because John and Jennifer didn’t do things the same way, and separate gardens seemed the smartest way to avoid unnecessary arguments. Jack stayed close to his friend, watching everything that she did and enjoying the soft grass under his paws.

  As Jack watched Jennifer walk to kitchen door, he sensed movement nearby. He turned to see an orange tabby.

  "Hey, cat!” Tiger hissed, “I see that you're sitting on my grass."

  Jack wasn't sure what to think. "What do you mean, your grass?”

  "Since you’re obviously a city cat,” Tiger continued, “you're not used to how things are done in the real world. My name is Tiger, and this is where I prowl. And wherever I prowl, is my territory."

  Tiger glared at Jack, as a grey and white cat came walking along the side of the house. "My name is Chelsea,” she said. “Don't pay any attention to him; my brother Tiger he thinks the entire town is his territory."

  Tiger spun around and hissed at Chelsea. "Don't interfere little sister."

  The grey and white cat hissed back. "Don't call me your little sister, we're from

  the same litter."

  Tiger stood up and swished his tail in disgust. He looked at Jack. "We'll continue

  this conversation in private. Don't get too attached to my territory."

  Tiger swished his tail at Chelsea, and walked away.

  “That was my brother. Charming, wouldn't you say?"